Table of contents

INTRODUCTION

This course is designed to provide a brief introduction to U.S. culture and civilization through a selection of some representative texts. These texts, both aural and written, deal with a number of topics and illustrate a variety of styles and genres. They will be analysed both in terms of their contents and their linguistic and discourse characteristics. Special emphasis will be placed in developing productive skills both in speech and writing, and vocabulary.

CLASSROOM METHODOLOGY AND STUDENTS’ WORKLOAD

Required readings for each session will be discussed in class, both for content and form, following a brief introduction to the topic by the teacher. Students’ oral presentations will follow suit, and debates will be organised around them on a weekly basis in the Theory session. Videoed material will be used in the Practice session to illustrate certain episodes in American culture and lead to both written and oral practice work.

Students are expected to read and prepare texts at home before each topic is presented and discussed in class. There will be two takehome written assignments and one presentation to the whole class prepared in groups around a topic in the syllabus of particular interest to the group. There will also be a set book to read throughout the course.

MATERIAL NEEDED

Novel to read: Students are expected to choose a novel to read (of a choice of two) and write its review.

EVALUATION OF YOUR WORK AND FINAL ASSESSMENT

Individual assignments (2 compositions) ……   20%

Class presentation ………………….…...........   20%

Book review…………………………………..   10%

Final exam …………………………………....   50%

WEEKLY PLAN FOR THE COURSE

WEEK 1 (april 12, 14)

• Class contents
• topic: Introduction: The American Dream.

Readings: Text set *1 (Text A: ‘1902: They came to America’.

Text B: ‘The Declaration of Independence’).

o       practice session:

            oral and written practice: ‘Heaven’s gate’ (film)

WEEK 2 (april 19, 21)

• Class contents
• topic: The Melting Pot.

Readings: Text set * 2 (Text A: ‘Immigration to America. Text B: ‘The Melting Pot: Immigration to America’).

o       practice session:

Ø    vocabulary: Describing people. Moods, character and personality. U.S. English and Black English..

WEEK 3 (april 26, 28)

• Class contents
• topic: Black America.

Readings: Text set * 3 (Text A: ‘Black America’. Text B: ‘I have a Dream’ I. Text C: ‘I have a Dream’ II. Text D: ‘I have a Dream III).

o       practice session:

Ø    oral and written practice: ‘Martin luther king’s speech’ (video). ’Mohammed ali’ (film).

WEEK 4 (may 3, 5)

• Class contents
• topic: Native Americans.

Readings: Text set * 4 (Text A: ‘The native American. Text B: ‘To Give up on Words’: Silence in Western Apache Culture.)

o       practice session:

Ø    oral and written practice: ‘Dancing with wolves’ (film). ‘The last of  the Mohicans’ (film).

*** written assignment # 1 due

WEEK 5 (may 10,12)

• Class contents
• topic: Religion and Moral Values.

Readings: Text set * 5 (Text A: ‘Religion in America’. Text B: America’s attitudes towards questions of public and private morality).

o       practice session:

Ø    oral and written practice: ‘Witness’ (film).

WEEK 6 (may 17,19)

• Class contents
• topic: Religion and Moral Values II.

Readings: Text set * 6 (Text A: ‘The Meaning of life’).

o       practice session:

Ø    vocabulary: ’The universe. The plant world. The animal world. Praise and criticism.

*** written assignment # 2 due

 WEEK 7 (may 24, 26)

• Class contents
• topic: Education.

Readings: Text set * 7 (Text A: ‘Education’).

o       practice session:

Ø    oral and written practice: Dead Poet’s Society (film).

 WEEK 8 (may 31, june 2)

• Class contents
• topic: Universities and Social Climbing.

Readings: Text set * 8 (Text A: ‘The brutal bargain’).‘

o       practice session:

Ø    vocabulary: Gestures and language. Colours. Clothes. Condition things are in. Slang. Headline English.

WEEK 9 (june 7,9)

• Class contents
• topic: The American Way of Life (I)

Readings: Text set * 9 (Text A: ‘Ask a Marine’).‘

o       practice session:

Ø    oral and written practice: ‘A tv nation’ (Michael Moore).

WEEK 10 (june 14, 16)

• Class contents
• topic: The American Way of Life (II)

Readings: Text set * 10 (Text A: ‘Stupid white men’).‘

o       practice session:

Ø    closing session: Group work presentation of books read.

           book review *** (in-class written activity)

References for materials in the pack

Bryson, B. Made in America.

Hocmard, G. et al. (1982) : The American dream. New York: Longman.

Knepler, H. & Knepler, M. 1987. Crossing cultures. New York: McMillan Pub. Co.

Levine, L. & Hughey, L.S. 1985. Changing Times. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Recommended bibliography

Grosso, M. The Millenium Myth. Love and Death at the End of Time. Wheaton (II). Questbooks.

De Tocqueville, A. Democracy in America. In J.P. Meyer (ed.). New York: Anchor Books. Garden city.

Mauck, D. 2002. American civilization: An introduction. London: Routledge.

Instructions for completing your course assignments

You must type your assignments and hand them in with your name and surnames and the name of the course on the left hand side of the page. Use double space between the lines and a 12 font.  Approximate number of words: 250.